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Nov 9, 2009: Bumper Cars
Here's another one that arrived in an email, like the snake & lizard on friday.
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It's easy for a gear-head to be discouraged about the state of the world, especially in times of Carpocalypse and Cash for Clunkers. But occasionally, a bright light of awesome renews the spirit. Road-legal bumper cars do just that. Yes, you read that right; these little beasties are street legal. Either Kawasaki or Honda motorcycle engines for power, and retired vintage bumper car bodies - transformed into the most awesome form of mini-car we've ever seen. |
My first reaction was, Are you shittin' me? But like the lady said, It's twue, It's twue.
| There's seven of these little monsters floating around California , and they're all the creation of one man, Tom Wright, a gyro-gear loose builder on the outskirts of San Diego who figured the leftovers of the Long Beach Pike amusement park needed a more dignified end than the trash heap. They were originally powered by Harley engines but rattled like heck and Tom replace them with Honda or Kawasaki 750's... and a couple have been 'measured' [not run at] theoretically as capable of 160 MPH which is terrifyingly fast in machines with such a short wheelbase. Doesn't mean we would totally rock one should the opportunity present itself. In fact, we now have only one burning desire, to see these things running a go kart track with a clown in the driver's seat. |
But Me Want.link
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SPUCK Monday Nov 9 05:55 AM
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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
Here's another one that arrived in an email, like the on friday
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I see you too must have a forwarding-mother-in-law..
toranokaze Monday Nov 9 08:53 AM
I thought there would be a ringling of clowns driving those.
dlturman Monday Nov 9 09:43 AM
Yea, a Shriner's wet dream.
newtimer Monday Nov 9 10:53 AM
These beautiful 4-wheelers wouldn't be legal in most states, as they have no fenders. I'm surprised they're road-legal in the People's Republic of California, with its overly-strict laws about safety, pollution, welfare, and so on.
Pie Monday Nov 9 11:15 AM
Wouldn't the bumper be a fender?
xoxoxoBruce Monday Nov 9 11:43 AM
No, a bumper's a defender.
I think Ohio is another state the lets them go fenderless. PA says the width of the tread, 15 degree ahead to 75 degrees behind, the centerline of each wheel.
TheMercenary Monday Nov 9 12:53 PM
Fenderless is street legal here too and in Fla. I think they look pretty cool. I bet they haul ass from a standing start.
Cloud Monday Nov 9 01:21 PM
just as long as they actually don't -- ya know--BUMP anything with it.
dmg1969 Monday Nov 9 01:22 PM
Umm...not sure I'd want to have a hot engine between my legs like in that woody model. Wow...how much is wrong with that sentence?
Cloud Monday Nov 9 01:41 PM
or, how much right?
Shawnee123 Monday Nov 9 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
No, a bumper's a defender.
I think Ohio is another state the lets them go fenderless. PA says the width of the tread, 15 degree ahead to 75 degrees behind, the centerline of each wheel. |
We're all about safety and morality here in Ohio.
lumberjim Monday Nov 9 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
PA says the width of the tread, 15 degree ahead to 75 degrees behind, the centerline of each wheel.
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say that in English
Medic63 Tuesday Nov 10 12:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Shawnee123
Hmmm, I don't think so. Someone had a car with a missing fender and replaced it with a two by four to be legal. This is the state of front and back plates, too.
We're all about safety and morality here in Ohio. |
xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Nov 10 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Shawnee123
Hmmm, I don't think so. Someone had a car with a missing fender and replaced it with a two by four to be legal. This is the state of front and back plates, too.
We're all about safety and morality here in Ohio. |
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Originally Posted by lumberjim
say that in English
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Up in the northwest, Oregon, Washington, or somewhere, they have a law that says fenders are optional, but if you don't have them, you aren't allowed to drive in the rain or on unpaved roads. Every state has their own interpretation of what's cool, and much of that depends how politically active their street rod organizations are.
ZenGum Tuesday Nov 10 05:39 AM
They look like lots of fun, but I'd rather have an Ariel Atom, a street-legal stripped back hot rod.
The model demonstrated here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA weighs 500 kilograms (1100 lbs) and produces 300 brake horsepower and does 0-60mph (100kph) in less than 3 seconds, and was the second fastest car top gear have yet tested. I've read of a 500 horsepower model.
Test driver: "It feels like my brains are being sucked out..."
SPUCK Tuesday Nov 10 06:29 AM
Here in CA the fender requirement is a function of the vehicle weight. That's why roadsters don't need fenders and neither would these bumper cars.
xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Nov 10 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by ZenGum
They look like lots of fun, but I'd rather have an Ariel Atom, a street-legal stripped back hot rod.
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This is not about going fast, this is about going slow, profiling, looking cool, and having fun.
smillie Tuesday Nov 10 08:06 PM
Last time I checked fenders were required in Michigan only if it was being driven in the rain.
Shawnee123 Wednesday Nov 11 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Medic63
Gee, I was in Youngstown many years ago, and saw a car with no hood, front fenders or front doors being driven down the street. On the other hand, the driver was wearing a seat belt and was not reading porn, so I guess you are correct.
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ps I would love one of those bumper cars!
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